Job Cuts, Gadgets | featured news

Google says it's cutting an additional 1,200 jobs in its Motorola division as the unprofitable cellphone maker struggles to compete.

Google said today that it will cut about 4,000 jobs at its Motorola Mobility wireless phone business and will close or consolidate about one-third of Motorola's 90 locations. The reductions represent about 20% of Motorola Mobility’s 20,000 employees, and two-third of the job cuts will take place outside of the U. S. The company said today that Motorola Mobility has lost money in 14 of the past 16 quarters.

Electronics retailer Best Buy Co. is laying off 600 staffers in its Geek Squad technical support division and 1,800 other store workers as it seeks to restructure operations and improve results, the company said Friday.

Struggling BlackBerry maker Research In Motion said Wednesday it has started laying off employees as part of its restructuring plan aimed at saving about $1 billion this year.

Nokia says it will slash 10,000 jobs and close plants as the ailing company fights fierce competition, and gave a grim outlook for most of the year, causing its shares to plummet 18 percent to close at €1.83 ($2.30). The Finnish cellphone maker also on Thursday announced personnel changes and said it has agreed to sell its luxury phone brand, Vertu.

Best Buy Co reported weaker-than-expected sales for the key holiday quarter, prompting the world's largest electronics chain to close 50 U.S. stores and cut 400 jobs in corporate and support areas.

Nokia Siemens Networks is slashing 17,000 jobs worldwide by 2013 — nearly 23 percent of its work force — as it strives to cut costs by €1 billion ($1.35 billion). The mobile infrastructure company said Wednesday the measures are part of “an extensive global restructuring program,” which includes streamlining the organization to improve long-term competitiveness and profitability.

BlackBerry maker Research In Motion Ltd. is cutting 2,000 jobs as part of a cost savings plan announced last month and is shuffling some senior executives....

The 12 percent reduction in the leading cellphone maker’s global work force will help trim operating costs by 1 billion euros as it prepares for its alliance with Microsoft.